The problem may be chronic, meaning it happens all the time, or it may happen once or twice, then not again for a while.

Dr. Clare Morrison, GP at online doctor and pharmacy MedExpress, told the Huffington Post: “Most people who suffer from NS-RED are highly anxious individuals, with many of them dieting during the day, leaving them very hungry at night, when their control is weak.

“They often suffer from fragmented sleep patterns. NS-RED could also have a genetic component.”

It is not clear what causes the condition, but it is commonly thought that diet restriction during the day makes an individual more prone to bingeing unconsciously at night.